Multigym advice needed.

[fr0sty]

I need a multigym but have no idea which brands are worth getting. I want one that I can do calf rasies and other leg exercises on (this seems to be an optional extra on a lot of them). I would spend up to £1000 on it.

I have a little york bench now but it wobbles about when I lift anything remotely heavy. So I want something good and sturdy this time.

Heres one one that I found that looks pretty good but its £1200 with the add on for legs.

http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/POWERLIFT/55749

I will welcome any advice on this matter so please post your thoughts!

 

[SgtSlaughter]

get this
http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/W962140/55752

and some quality, sturdy benches

 

[Cynical Simian]

Get a power rack, bench and weight set rather than a multigym. It'll allow you to do better exercises and cost far less.

 

[fr0sty]

What about this, it fits into the space I have. Power racks will be a very tight squeeze for me, only for that I would have one ordered now.

http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/TSA5762/55756

Do Marcy make good quality stuff, or should I be looking at another manufacturer?

 

[beerdrinker]

What about this, it fits into the space I have. Power racks will be a very tight squeeze for me, only for that I would have one ordered now.

http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/TSA5762/55756

Do Marcy make good quality stuff, or should I be looking at another manufacturer?

NO SMITH MACHINES!!! I don't see how that takes up any less space than a rack. How are you going to squat and do overhead presses with that? Can you even take the bar out? You won't be able to deadlift or row if it doesn't. What's going to happen is, you're going to buy it, and then figure out you can't do half the stuff you really want to do. Then you are going to have to buy more stuff you don't have room for to make up for it.

ETA:

The smith thing you were looking at has these dimensions:
H: 175cm
W: 180cm
L: 175cm

Where
THIS rack has the following dimensions:

H: 208cm
W: 122cm
L: 122cm

The power rack takes less space. Sure the bench will stick out further when you are using it, but you can put that away.

 

[Cynical Simian]

I'd never heard of Marcy before this thread, so I can't help you there.

Midwest and New York Barbell make good basic racks, but since I assume you're in the U.K. you might want to look at Powertec. I have the basic rack linked to in the post above and haven't had or heard of others having any problems with it

 

[fr0sty]

I have that rack on 2 different sites stating different sizes fromthe ones on the manufacturers website. in fact none of the places that have this stocked have the same dimensions that are on the manufacturers website. Of course they must be wrong but doesnt stop me worrying about it. Most places have L= 60" W= 44" HT= 82" as the dimensions.

One
L=60"
W=44"
HT=82"

Two
L: 163cm (64'')
W: 122cm (48'')
H: 208cm (82'')

Ahh why is it so damn confusing

 

[petpre61]

you could something like this squat rack and a bench. with additional spotter racks you are good to go.

 

[Cynical Simian]

IIRC, anotherbutters has a Powertec bench/rack combo similar to that. He does his main workouts at a gym now; maybe he'll sell it to you if you're near London.

 

[blut wump]

get this
http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/W962140/55752

and some quality, sturdy benches

Cheaper here:
http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk...ympic_Weight_Set_-_145kg_5_prtID5_102294.html and you get 5Kg more.

 

[fr0sty]

Would someone that knows more take a look at the ones on this page and see if I can do squats on them. Some look like I could but then it doesnt say that you can http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/departmentpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/55753/1/1

Also what are spotters. I know what the look like but what do they do?

Bench with spotters:
http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/NT1400/55753

 

[Cynical Simian]

Links don't work. You copied and pasted them as text from somewhere, so the URLs include ellipses rather than the full addresses.

 

[fr0sty]

They work now.

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

I wouldn't try to buy one machine that does everything. Find a solid Squat Cage, buy a BASIC flat bench, and ~300lbs of olympic weights, and a decent quality bar. I've tried too many of those "incline/flat/decline" benchs that are just wobbly and unstable. The squat cage should have spotter bars for you, in case you need to drop the bar. THat way you can squat, lower the pins, bench, then deadlift, which is all you really need.

YOU DON'T NEED THE LEG EXTENSION ATTACHMENT.

 

[blut wump]

I have a four-position bench which has a leg attachment that allows me the luxury of doing decline situps. Maybe I've been lucky but I've found it to be solid when I'm benching. I could have done with its being a shade wider, though. I'd suggest going higher than 300. I guess it depends on where your best lift currently sits. You can always pick up more plates later.

Here's my setup:
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=501947

 

[musclemom]

What about this, it fits into the space I have. Power racks will be a very tight squeeze for me, only for that I would have one ordered now.

http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/TSA5762/55756

Do Marcy make good quality stuff, or should I be looking at another manufacturer?

I actually have another generation of that machine:

http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/customerimages/products/MP3100.jpg

I got it on deep discount so I'm happy with it for what it's used for, but I gave up on using the smith for anything other than assisted chins and calf raises, seriously. I cannot use it, not for benching, not for squats. I don't lift things perfectly evenly and it binds.

There are some low power racks out there if you shop around. Look for low power racks or try the term "sumo rack."